Not Expected From a Hero............

" So, you want him to fight and make his way out with a knee that has been shot?????" my mother said when I complained to her that the hero of "Legend", Day, is not at all heroic. I told her,"You know, he was like fainting and June (heroine) had to drag him along by placing his arm on her shoulder. She had only a few seconds to escape and he was not of any help at all. What kind of hero does that?"

My mother was right. He may be a hero, but that doesn't means that he is not a human. A human feels pain. We can't deny that. The truth is by watching all those movies, one unintentionally thinks like that. We always see in Bollywood movies that the hero gets up even after receiving three bullets (so stupid. Isn't it?). 

In Day I find all the qualities that may not suite the idea of a hero. Such as, despite having muscular built he looses a fight. The way the writer describes it makes it look alright. She brings the human factor. First, he is only fifteen. Secondly, he has not been properly trained. He has a great mind, but even a great mind needs tutoring and he didn't go to school after 10 years of age. Justified, isn't it?

Another thing we hate in a hero is that he is driven by his emotions, not logic. Day and Four are the two people that I have witnessed with this fault. I mean in the first two novels of "Divergent" series , you find Four being brave and powerful, but the third one, you find him weak. Day's behavior is justified again as he is only 15. Practically a kid.

Well, if you ask for an invincible hero. Jace Herondale is that hero. However, after reading about Will Herondale (The Infernal Devices), I started disliking Jace because he is way too perfect. May be I am not happy in any case.

Well there are many things that we like about heroes. For example, I like that in the end of Spider man movies, the villain asks forgiveness from spider man and spider man forgives him. In a nutshell, these ideas are completely my own. You may know heroes better than I do,  and you may not like my judgement. So, this is what I think of heroes. 

Goodbye My Fear of Presentations

I nearly never had problem in delivering a presentation, making eye contact, etc. My problem was that as soon as I would reach the rostrum, my heart beat would start pounding my ear, and then my voice would start to quiver. This shivering voice was my biggest problem. Once a friend of mine commented my presentation as a "Musical Presentation" :-D. The highest marks were 9 out of ten and mine were 8. So, you can imagine that where my presentation stood. 

I never had problems, such as looking at the audience, the teacher, reading from slides, etc. I usually don't memorize presentations. I just understand them and then make bullet point on a small paper that fits the size of my palm (this was taught to me by my first semester's English teacher. So, thanks ma'am). 

I'd like to add that I don't feel shy, unconfident, or nervous, when I am speaking from my own seat, but  if someone asks me repeat the same by standing in front of the class, I start trembling. I sometimes think that I don't like to be the center of attention.

Someone once told me that I will stop getting nervous during my presentations when I'll reach fourth semester. I was like, “Yeah, it may be so for girls who do not take much stress. But in my case I can't be sure this will happen." Now, when I have reached fourth semester, I find her being 100% correct.

But, I don't give all the credit to the passage of time, and my continuous exposure to these situations. This was done, above all, with the help of God, and a little due to my own effort. I searched for exercise that can instantly reduce stress. I have learned from experience that there is no easier way to calm yourself and slow down your heart beat than this:

Deep breathing is the quickest and the easiest way to lower down your heart beat. It does so in only a few seconds.

I also found a book on how to improve my presentation skills. I found many things.

1. The first was that you should first look at your audience and smile, so that they know you are confident. I didn’t exactly do this, but, as I am usually the one who changes the slides when my group members are presenting, I keep smiling to the audience and I look at them over and over again so that I can stop being nervous.
2. I also found out that while one you are being questioned do not draw your head back because this will give an impression that you do not want to answer or do not know the answers. So, keep your head bet towards your audience.
3. This one was learned from my own experience. If you have full grasp on your topic, then you won’t get confused or nervous.

 In a nut shell, this semester nearly all my presentations went well. Although I was surprised when a friend of mine told me that she liked my Geology’s presentation (which was to the worst presentation in that semester). So, may be its all in your head, but trying to improve is not wrong. So, keep on trying….

I Find it Hilarious Because This Happens in Every Class......

....Especially when the presenter is continously reading from paper or slides, or the presentation is too boring ,or the presenter is taking up over time....:-D

Young Adult Dystopian Novels........How Do I Analyze them??

Who doesn't love dystopian novels?? At least, I know that I do. These novels are full of action and are so addictive. They benefit us in ways that we can't imagine. They give us the sense that every individual has power and has the tendency to bring change in their system. Dystopian novels inspire people to question their authorities and not to follow any system blindly. Systems are to be followed, if and only if  they follow certain standards of morality and ethics. Too much good talk, eh? Now lets see "the faults in our novels" :-D

First and foremost, do children or young adults have to be the ones to read these novels? I mean there is so much bloodshed, use of weapons (Guns, Knives, Bows, etc.), and rebellious behavior. Its very natural that young people are at an very delicate age. These books give us a sense of being continuously at war (take Divergent Trilogy for example. There is  war in each of its novels). When we don't have any thing to rebel against, its our parents that have to face our rude behavior. We think our rights are being denied and we rebel against things that are good or beneficial for us. 

Even I, who am quite a dependent girl, like this rebelliousness. I was so amazed by my own behavior when I read Delirium trilogy. In the first book the main heroine was shy, delicate, stressed, worried, and dependent and I was like, "I don't like her. She is just like me!!", and " What's the fun in that?". In the second novel, however, she turned rebellious. She knew how to use guns, open locks, etc. Then, I liked her and on some of her dialogues I would say, "This is incredible." So do you get my point??? 

I was once asked that what do you learn from reading novels. I replied that for shooting for a long distance you exhale and for shooting at a nearer target you exhale (I don't know if either of these statements is correct because I don't clearly remember my answer).

Secondly, I see that in such novels, and many other young adult novels, the writer's build up characters do not act as people do in that age. I mean you know four right. Can you imagine in the movie an 18 year old four??? I can't. I know that his situation molded him into this but the skills that he had and his seriousness, I don't think any 18 year old can do it. However, the ages of characters of The Hunger Games were agreeable. 

Lastly, sometimes reading so much destruction and bloodshed makes makes the reader  irritable and rude. Mostly I seek company in novels, but sometimes they give me a severe headache.

Don't you think that we need novels that are a bit lighter. I mean why should children be shown a destructed world. Why be pessimistic, rather than optimistic about our species? We can show a world without violence and this may give good moral lessons to young people. Novels like Jane Eyre. I have moved on from this genre of novel. I feel that these stories are foolish. There is always a 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old hero and heroine saving the whole world. To me, these novels should be read, but at an age such as above 16. Early teenager shouldn't be given these novel. Do you agree with me?

Hey, What is Water Footprinting????

Water footpriting?? You may not know what water footprinting is. It is a relatively new terminology. Water footprint measures the amount of water used to produce each of the goods and services we use. According to waterfootprint.org,

The water footprint is a measure of humanity’s appropriation of fresh water in volumes of water consumed and/or polluted.

The water footprint looks at both direct and indirect water use of a process, product, company or sector and includes water consumption and pollution throughout the full production cycle from the supply chain to the end-user. For example, water footprint of dairy products can be calculated. This water footprint would also include the water that the cow or any other animal uses, the water footprint of the food that it eats, etc.

Water footprints are of three type:

Green water footprint is water from precipitation that is stored in the root zone of soil and evaporated, transpired or incorporated by plants. It is particularly relevant for agricultural, horticultural and forestry products.

Blue water footprint is water that has been sourced from surface or groundwater resources and is either evaporated, incorporated into a product or taken from one body of water and returned to another, or returned at a different time. Irrigated agriculture, industry and domestic water use can each have a blue water footprint.

Grey water footprint is the amount of fresh water required to assimilate pollutants.The grey water footprint considers point-sources of pollution, or other diffuse sources.

We consume alot of products and services daily. For example, we use water, eat rice, cereals, we buy new clothes, etc. These all products have their own water footprint. So,it is our duty to recognize and leave such products that have large water footprint. For example, coffee and meat have very high water footprints. So, we should avoid coffee and meat when we can.

Following is contribution of various products and services to the global water footprint.

You can calculate your water footprints can be calculated through this interactive quiz.

You can also check you nations water footprint, water availability, etc., through this interactive explorer.

Other than water footprints, there are many other types of footprints. Major footprints are,

1. Ecological Footprint: Measures the use of bio-productive space.
2. Carbon Footprint: Measures the emission of gases that contribute to global warming.
3. Water Footprint: Measures the consumption and contamination of freshwater resources.
4. Nitrogen Footprint: Measures the amount of nitrogen released into the environment in relation to consumption.

     If you like this post or want more information about this (although I am not any expert but I worked on this as a project), please do comment.

3 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

I tried out this amazing recipe today. This chocolate mug cake was easy to make and very delicious to eat. I loved this recipe because I didn't have to use my gas oven, which either half cooks or burns cakes when I try to cook them properly.  This cake is made in a microwave oven.

Ingredients

4 Tablespoon flour

4 Tablespoons of milk

4 Tablespoons of oil

4 Tablespoons of sugar

2 Tablespoon cocoa

1 egg

3 Teaspoon chocolate chips (optional)

1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract (some even add jam but I didn't add the last two ingredients)

Method

1. First mix all the dry ingredients in a coffee mug.

Tip: Remember use castor sugar or powered sugar.

2. Now add egg in it and then add milk and oil.

3. Mix the batter thoroughly.

4. Place this coffee mug in microwave oven. Set the power at 1000W for 3 minutes.

5. Take out the coffee mug and cool it. Then serve.

Tip: You have to balance the amount of sugar added.For example, I had to add 5 tbs. because I was'nt adding any  chocolate chips.

Have fun!!!

Reference:

http://www.food.com/recipe/5-minute-chocolate-mug-cake-354827?photo=352932

What is my hobby???Obviously reading!

I was in 5th grade when my mother gave me a novel of Enid Blyton. She gave me this novel so that I could improve my English speaking skills and creative writing. After Famous Five, I read R.L. Stine's novels. Then Harry Potter, Hunger games, Divergent, Pride and Prejudice and so many more.  Reading  is my hobby. Reading helps me to get rid of stress. It keeps me for a limited time in a world other than my own. Whenever I an reading a novel, from its start till its end I feel light and happy.  But its not like I am reading novels all the time. I just vigorously (really I read a trilogy in nearly a week on my laptop and then I was having a headache for many many days) read novels in the beginning of the semester and after  week or so I stop touching any novel.

There has always been a query in my mind. How do people get inspired by novels? I mean I read Alchemist but its not like I changed because of it, but I do know some people who do get inspired by it. Although I don't get inspired easily, I was inspired by a religious Urdu novel.

Now that I am addicted to novels, my mother often tells me that she regrets the day she handed me that novel :-D. She knows every story that I read because I share all of them. Although she wasn't interested in Harry Potter, she knew all the story by heart. I even caught her telling my father about the disparities between the books and the movies. Sometimes I get astonished when someone tells me that I told them something. It's because I am way to talkative and try to share the things I like with others.

Moreover, I am trying to develop interest in books and newspapers. I also check the blogs that I follow. I love information. Anyway here is a poll, please participate if you can.